Bank-protecting device



KBTSTfiETBKNK PROTECTION AND RELATED DEVICES.

May 21, 1929. E... E. JONES 1, 4,

BANK PROTECTING DEVICE Filed Dec. 24, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 lNvEN'rog109. SAFES, BANK PROTECTION AND RELATED DEVICES.

May 21, 1929.

E. E. JONES BANK PROTECTING DEVICE Filed Dec. 24, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 2\NVENT'OE.

. :I'TOENEY AND RELATED DEVICES.

M y 1929. E. E. JONES 1,714,267

BANK PROTECTING DEVICE Filed Dec. 24, 1926 5' Sheets-Sheet s 5 E? =11 J;z E E I 7 INVENTOB QTTOENEY 109i 'SAFES, BANK PROTECTION i AND RELATEDDEVICES.

May 21, 1929. 5 JQNES 1,714,267

' BANK PROTECTING DEVIQE Filed Dec. 24, 1926 v 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 35! QINVENTOE. gm M 6% QTTQENEY 109. SAFES, BANK PROTECTION AND RELATEDDEVICES.

May 21, 1929. JQNES 1,714,267

BANK PROTECTING DEVICE Filed Dec. 24, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOBlea. bar to, DANA IHUILUIIUIJ AND RELATED DEVICES.

Patented May 21, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BANK-PROTECTING DEVICE.

Application filed December 24, 1926. Serial No. 156,877.

This invention relates to bank protecting devices.

One of its objects is to provide a mechanism comprising bullet-proofplates which may be actuated to enclose the counting room of a bank fromthe foyer by a bullet-proof wall.

Another object is to provide a device of the character mentioned theplates of which normally serve as shelves or tables on which theordinary work of the tellers or other bank employees may be carried on.

A still further object is to provide a device of the character mentionedwhich will be automatically actuated upon any unauthorized attempt beingmade by a person to enter the counting room of the bank.

Another object of said invention is to provide a device which can beactuated by any employee of the bank from a point remote from the pointof danger as well as from a point close thereto.

And a still further object of this invention is to provide a device ofthe character mentioned none of the parts of which extend underneath thefloor, and all parts of which are normally invisible from the foyer, andwhich normally do not in any way mar the appear ance of the partition ofa kind commonly used in banks to separate the counting room from thefoyer, and which normally do not interfere with, or offer any hindranceto the bank employees in the performance of their customary duties.

And another object is to provide a device of the character mentionedwhich may be locked in open position, as for cleaning, repairing, andthe like, and which may be reset after having been discharged orreleased, with a minimum expenditure of effort.

With these and other objects in view, the invention resides in theconstruction and arrangements of parts which will be hereinafter morefully described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, inwhich- Figure 1 is a front elevation of a portion of a partition wall,showing, in dotted lines, the parts of my mechanism which will bevisible when in its protecting position;

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of a partition wall with which my inventionis used, showing the parts thereof in closed, or protecting, position;

Figure 3 is a vertical section on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Figure 4 is a vertical section on the line 14 of Fig. 1;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the plate locking andreleasing mechanism;

Figure 6 is a rear elevation with parts broken away, showing mymechanism in its open or normal position;

Figure 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 77 of Fig. 6;

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 1;

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the spike-bar locking andreleasing mechanlsm;

Figure 10 is a top plan of the mechanism shown in elevation in Fig. 9;

Figure 11 is a front elevation of the hammer mechanism; and

Figure 12 is a vertical section of the same on the line 12-12 of Fig.11.

In said drawings, the numeral 1 designates the floor line of a bankingroom, divided into a counting room and a foyer by a partition wall ofconventional design generally designated by the numeral 2. Saidpartition wall comprises a series of conveniently spaced columns 3supporting a shelf 4 at a convenient height above the floor, withdecorative upper mouldings 5, base mouldings 6, and panels 7therebetween. Mounted upon said shelf as continuations of the posts 3are upper posts 3 having a decorative entablature 8 mounted thereto nearthe upper ends thereof. Mounted upon said entablature in a manner whichwill be hereinafter described is a moulding 9, and mounted upon saidshelf 4 and extending upward to said entablature are opposite posts 10of a tellers window. Disposed between the window posts 10 and thepartition posts 3 are decorative panels 11, preferably made of plateglass. Slidably mounted in the adjacent walls of the window posts 10 isan upper window grating 12 and a lower grating 12' of conventionaldesign.

The portion of said partition located between the median line of theposts 3 constitutes a unit of said partition, and said partition mayconsist of any desired number of such units. One unit will be hereindescribed, and it will be understood that each unit is identical withthat described, except the unit containing the door, which will behereinafter particularly described.

Rigidly attached to or formed integral with said entablature 8 near thelower portion thereof and extending horizontally and rearwardlytherefrom, is a fin 13. Vertical guide rods 14 are positioned rearwardlyof said wall 2, one thereof being located directly behind each of thewindow posts 10, said rods having their lower ends rigidly fixed to thefloor and their upper ends held by said fin 13. Located immediately tothe rear of the partition wall 2 and in front of the rods 14 is abulletproof plate 15 extending from the floor upward to a point belowthe level of said shelf 4. Said plate has its upper end bent rearwardly,as at 15, to a point beyond the rods 14, and then upwardly, at 15*.Hinged to the upper end 15 of said plate 15 and normally extendingrearwardly therefrom is a second bulletproof plate 16 having hinged tothe opposite or rearward edge thereof a third bullet-poof plate 17 whichis normally held in a sub stantially horizontal position, as shown inFigs. 3, 4, 5 and 6. Said plate 17 normally serves as a shelf or tableon which the duties of the teller are transacted, and normally has itsupper surface in the same plane as, and its forward edge flush against,the rearward edge of the shelf 4, as is clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4.Hingedly carried upon said plate 17 at or near its forward edge aresleeves 18. Each of said sleeves is slidably mounted upon one of therods 14; and disposed around the lower end of each of said rods 14 andextending from said sleeve 18 to a stop block 19 upon or near the flooris a resilient coil spring 20, normally exerting an upward pressure uponsaid sleeve. Said plates 16 and 17 are normally held in the positionsjust described in a manner which will be hereinafter described.

Rigidly attached to the plate 15 near its upper edge, as by screws 21,is a series of brackets 22 of suitable size, and a horizontal shaft 23is journaled in said brackets. Said shaft extends substantially theentire length of the partition wall and has fixed thereto at suitableintervals pawls 24. Said brackets also have pivoted thereto, as at 25, alever 26 which, in turn, has hinged to its upper end a catch pin 27.Said pin extends through a guideway formed in a block 28 which, in turn,is rigidly mounted upon said bracket Hinged to the plate 17 near itsfront edge is a bar 29 normally extending downward through an aperture30 in the plate 15. Said bar is notched at the proper point to receivethe forward end of the pin 27. Said pin is normally held in engagementwith the notch of said bar by means of a suitable spring 31 disposedbetween the lower arm of the lever 26 and a block 32 carried by thebracket 22. Said lever 26 has its lower arm disposed opposite the lowerend of the pawl 24 so that when said shaft 23 is rotated in a clockwisedirection, the pawl 24 will strike against the lower end of the lever26, thus causing the pin 27 to be withdrawn from the notch of the bar 29and so allowing the plates 17 and 16 to be by the springs 20 quicklyforced upward to and firmly held in closed or protecting position shownin Fig. 2 and in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 3. The plate 15 has formedtherein apertures of suitable dimensions to allow the free passing ofthe rods 14 and springs 20 therethrough. The plate-locking and releasingmechanism just described is preferably located centrally with respect toa unit of the partition wall; that is, directly to the rear of thecentral portion. of the tellers window.

Each of the columns 3 is hollow, and has attached to its inner walls anumber of guide blocks 34, 35 and 36. Vertically slidable through saidblocks is a bar 37, the upper end of which is received within a yoke 38.A rail 39 carrying on its upper surface a series of upwardly extending,pointed spikes 40, at spaced intervals therealong, has its opposite endshinged to said yokes 38, and each of said yokes also preferably carriesa spike. Said bars and rails are normally held down with the spikes in aconcealed position behind the entablature 8 and moulding 9 by meanswhich will hereinafter be described.

Each of said bars 37 has fixed thereon at a point intermediate theblocks 35 and 36, a collar 41, and disposed around each of said bars 37is a resilient coil spring 42 having its lower end resting upon theblock 36 and its upper end exerting a lifting pressure on the collar 41.

Attached to each of the columns 3 is a bracket consisting of two arms 43and 44. The shaft 23 also passes through and is journaled in saidbracket, and has fixed thereon a pawl 45 similar in design to the pawl24. Also mounted within said bracket is a lever 46, pin 47, passingthrough a guide block 48, and having a spring 49 normally holding saidparts in position, this construction being substantially identical withthe plate-locking and. releasing mechanism hereinbefore de scribed. Theforward end of the pin 47 engages a notch 50 formed in the bar 37.Obviously, when said pin is withdrawn from said notch, the pressure ofsaid spring upon the collar 41 will cause said bar 37 to be thrustsharply upward. The upward movement of said bar is arrested by contactof the collar 41 with the lower side of the block 35, and the positionof said block, therefore, gauges the extent of upward thrust of saidrod, and, consequently, also the spike rails carried thereby.

Rotatable disposed upon said shaft 23 in embracing relation to the pawl45 is ahammer 51. Said hammer has its forward face rabbeted, as at 51',as shown in Figs. 11 and 12, to receive therein the upper portion 109.SN t5, BANK PHUltUIIUN AND RELATED DEVICES.

of said pawl 45. Attached to said hammer, as by screws 52, are the upperends of two leaf springs 53 and 54. Each of said springs has its lowerend hooked, as at 53 and 54', respectively, to receive one end of alink, as 55, and a hook 56 suitably positioned upon the lower part ofthe column 3, receives the other end of said link when the mechanism ofmy invention is cooked, or ready to be tripped or sprung. A lever 57 ispivoted near its middle, as by means of the pin 58, to the bracket 43.Said lever has its rear end formed to form arms 57 a and 57 and hingedto each of said arms near its end is the upper end of a thrust rod 59.The lower end of said thrust rod is hinged to one end of a treadle lever60, which, in turn, is pivoted to a floor bracket 61. Received within asocket 60 formed on said lever 60 is one end of a treadle bar 62 whichhas its opposite end received within the socket of a correspondinglever.

Formed upon the lower side of the lever 57 intermediate its fulcrumpoint and its rear end, is a tooth 63 designed to engage a shoulder 64formed on the upper end of the hammer 51. Said tooth and shoulder mustbe in engagement when the mechanism is set, or eocked, and the tensionof the leaf springs 53 and 54 normally hold the shoulder of said hammertightly against said tooth 63.

Thus it will be seen that downward pressure exerted upon the treadle bar62 will cause the tooth 63 to be lifted free from engagement with theshoulder 64 of the hammer 51, whereupon the tension of the springs 53and 54 will cause said hammer forcefully to strike against the pawl 45,thus rotating the shaft 23, and causing the powl 45 to strike the lever46, withdrawing the pin 47 from the notch in the bar 37, and allowingsaid bar to be thrust upward in a manner hereinbefore described. At thesame time, the sharp rotation of said shaft 23 in the manner justdescribed, will also release the plate-elevating mechanism hereinbeforedescribed.

It will be understood that, while there are a number of hammers andcomplementary mechanisms disposed at intervals throughout the length ofthe partition wall, preferably one behind each of the columns 3, any oneof these hammers may be released independently of all the others, theintent being to have any one of the springs 53 or 54 of sufiicientstrength to release the mechanism throughout its entire length.

In order to prevent accidental discharge of my mechanism at a time whenits protec tion is not needed, or for cleaning, repairing, and the like,a locking device is provided comprising a horizontal shaft 65 extendingthrough and journaled in the brackets 22, 43

and 44, having earns 66 fixed thereon at points preferably locatedalmost directly above the toothed portion of each of said levers 57.

Said cam is shown in locking position in Figs. 8 and 9, and in thelatter figure said cam is shown in dotted lines in its open or readyposition. In order to facilitate the operation of said cam, atconvenient intervals along said shaft 65 are provided laterallyextending arms 67. Said arms are rigidly fixed to said shaft, and arejointed, as at 68, to allow of movement of their outer ends toward saidshaft. Said arms are so fixed to said shaft that when said arms arehanging vertically downward, said cams 66 occupy the position shown indotted lines in Fig. 9, and when said arms are raised to a horizontalposition, said cams are thereby rotated to the locking position shown infull lines in Figs. 8 and 9. For holding said arms horizontally,conveniently placed rests 69 are provided, as upon the sides of acabinet 70. The joint in said arms permit their clearing said rest whenbeing raised thereto or lowered therefrom. Manifestly, when said camsare in locking position, discharge of the releasing mechanismsheretofore described is thereby pre vented.

The cabinet ust referred to may be of any desired design, but preferablyhas a drawer or other receptacle near the top thereof suit able forreceiving a revolver, and so constructed that elevation of the plates 16and 17 will expose said revolver and make it easily accessible to theteller. And if desired, a port hole 71 may be provided in the plate 16to allow of shooting therethrough by the teller.

In case said porthole is provided, then the upper window grating 12should be raised to obviate interference of said grating with bulletsaimed through said port hole. This is done by extending lugs 7 2 througha guideway (not shown) in the window casing, designed to engage with.the sleeves 18 as said sleeves travel upward along the rods 14.

Pivoted to the upper end of said window grating, at each side thereof,is a trigger 73 having a tooth 7 3 normally engaged in underlyingrelation to a lever 74. Said lever is pivoted intermediate its ends to abracket 75 fixed upon the fin 13, and hinged to the opposite end of saidlever is the upper end of a thrust rod 76 which has its lower endreceived by a yoke 77 partially surrounding the bar 37. Another rod 78extends downward from said yoke 77 to the forward end of the lever 57. Aresilient coil spring 79 surrounding the upper portion of said rod 78and extending from the upper side of the block 34 to the bottom of saidyoke 77 normally prevents the exertion of pressure upon. the lever 57.

Thus it will be readily understood that an unauthorized raising of theupper window grating will, through the mechanism just described, releasethe hammers, and, consequently, the entire protective structure.

Also carried by the upper window grating 12 at a point where they willbe engaged by the lower grating 12 when the latter is raised beyond acertain height, are lugs 80. From this it will be seen that an attemptto raise the lower window grating beyond the height of the lugs 80 willalso release the mechanism of my invention.

In order to facilitate repositioning of the mechanism just describedafter it has been released, the lugs 72 of the trigger 73 have theirlower edges beveled to permit said lugs to slide downward over theadjacent ends of the levers 74. A resilient coil spring 81 disposedbetween the topmost frame of the window grating 12 and a shoulder 82formed on the trigger 73 opposite the lug 7 2, normally holds said lugin engagement with the adjacent end of the lever 74, and permitssufficient movement of said trigger away from said lever 74- in the actof repositioning as to allow said lug to slide or jump over the end ofsaid lever.

In order that any attempt of a bandit or other person to enter thecounting room by sealing the partition wall and passing over the topthereof may be frustrated, or, at least rendered more. difficult, and atthe same time to release my protective mechanism, I prefer to have themoulding 9 slotted underneath, as shown at 83 in Figs. 3 and 4, toreceive therein the upper edge of and to be slidable downward upon, theentablature 8. And having their upper ends fastened to, and extendingdownward from said moulding are thrust rods 84, as shown most clearly inFig. 8. The lower ends of said rods are received within the yoke 77.Thus it will be seen that downward pressure exerted upon the moulding 9will, by means of the mechanism just described, release one or more ofthe hammers 51 and so discharge or release the entire mechanism of myinvention.

Corners in the partition may, of course, be turned by using beveled gearwheels on the shafts in a manner well understood in the art.

It will be readily understood that when the mechanism of my invention isset or cocked in the ready position, none of the working parts thereofwill be visible to a person standing in front of the partition wallthereof, or elsewhere in the foyer of the banking room.

It will also be apparent that the releasing mechanism of my inventionmay be tripped by a bank employee by exerting downward pressure upon thetreadle bar, and that said mechanism will also be automatically releasedwhen an attempt is made to enter the counting room either by raising thewindow grating, or by scaling the partition and climbing over the topthereof.

In order to cock or reset the mechanism of my invention after the samehas been released or discharged, first, the hooked lower ends of thesprings 53 and 54 are removed from their links 55, allowing said springsto assume positions substantially as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 8.Next, each of the hammers throughout the length of the shaft 23 is resetby placing the tooth 63 of the lever 57 in engagement with the shoulder64 of said hammer, and locking the same in place by rotating the camshaft 65 to carry the cam 66 into locking relation with respect to saidlever, as shown in full lines in Fig. 9. Each of the plates 17 may thenbe lowered to normal position by means of manual pressure directedrearwardly against the forward face of said plate or its complementaryplate 16, and then downward manual pressure upon the upper surface ofthe plate 17 near its forward edge. When said plates are presseddownward to the proper position, the pin 27 is placed in engagement withthe notch in bar 29 in a manner which will be readily understood, forholding said plates in lowered position. The window gratings areactuated by gravity to slide into normal position when said plates arelowered, and the moulding 9 is, through its associated mechanism,auton'iatically repositioned by setting the lever 57 in a manner whichwill be readily understood. Each of the bars 37 may then be lowered tonormal position by means of manual pressure directed downwardly thereon,and the catch pin 47 placed in engagement with the notch 50 in each ofsaid bars. Then the springs 53 and 54 are hooked to the links 55, and asa last step the cam shaft is rotated to carry the cams 66 to the raisedor open position illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 9, whereupon mymechanism is set or cocked, or in the ready position.

I claim 1. A banking fixture comprising a partition wall separating thebanking room into a foyer and a counting room, a substantially verticalbullet-proof plate disposed to the rear of said wall and extendingupward from the floor substantially to counter height, a secondbullet-proof plate hinged to said first plate and normally extendingrearwardly therefrom, a third bullet-proof plate hinged to said secondplate and normally extending forwardly therefrom, and means for raisingsaid second and third plates into a substantially vertical positionabove said first plate.

2. A banking fixture comprising a partition wall separating the bankingroom into a foyer and a counting room, a substantially verticalbullet-proof plate disposed to the rear of said wall and extendingupward from the floor substantially to counter height, a

second bullet-proof plate hinged to said first plate and normallyextending rearwardly therefrom, a third bullet-proof plate hinged tosaid second plate and normally extending forwardly therefrom, saidsecond and third 1 ca SAFES,

AND RELATED DEVICES.

plates when in normal or open position constituting a counter for theuse of a banking teller, and means for raising said second and thirdplates into a substantially vertical po sition above said first plate.

3. A banking fixture comprising a partition wall separating the bankingroom into a foyer and a counting room, a substantially verticalbullet-proof plate disposed to the rear of said wall and extendingupward from the floor substantially to counter height, a secondbullet-proof plate hinged to said first plate and normally extendingrearwardly therefrom, a third bullet-proof plate hinged to said secondplate and normally extending forwardly therefrom, and means for raisingsaid second and third plates into a substantially vertical positionabove said first plate, said three plates when so elevated constitutinga bullet-proof wall extending from the floor of the banking room upwardsubstantially to the top of said partition.

4. A banking fixture comprising a partition wall separating the bankingroom into a foyer and a counting room, a substantially verticalbullet-proof plate extending upward from the floor of the banking roombehind and contiguous to said wall substantially to counter height, asecond bulletproof plate hinged to said first plate at or near its upperedge and normally extending rearwardly therefrom, a third bullet-proofplate hinged to said second plate at or near its upper edge and normallyextending forwardly therefrom, and means for elevating said second andthird plates to and holding the same in substantially vertical positionsto constitute a bullet-proof wall extending from the floor of thebanking room upward substantially to the top of said partition.

5. A banking fixture comprising a partition wall separating the bankingroom into a foyer and a counting room, a substantially verticalbullet-proof plate extending upward from the floor of the banking roombehind and contiguous to said wall substantially to counter height, asecond bullet-proof plate having its forward edge hinged to said firstplate near the top thereof and normally extending rearwardly therefrom,a third bullet-proof plate hinged to said second plate near its rearedge and normally extending forwardly from said hinge in a substantiallyhorizontal position, and means connected to the forward end of saidthird plate for moving said second and third plates to and holding thesame in a substantially vertical position.

6. A banking fixture comprising a partition wall separating the bankingroom into a foyer and a counting room, a substantially verticalbullet-proof plate extending upward from the floor of the banking roombehind and contiguous to said wall substantially to counter height, asecond bulletproof plate having its forward edge hinged to said firstplate near the top thereof and normally extending rearwardly therefrom,a third bullet-proof plate hinged to said second plate near its rearedge and normally extending forwardly from said hinge in a substantiallyhorizontal position, and means connected to the forward end of saidthird plate for moving said second and third plates to and holding thesame in a substantially vertical position, said means comprisliangsleeves slidably mounted upon vertical ars.

7 A banking fixture comprising a partition wall separating the bankingroom into a foyer and a counting room, a substantially verticalbullet-proof plate extending upward from the floor of the banking roombehind and contiguous to said wall substantially to counter height, asecond bullet-proof plate having its forward edge hinged to said firstplate near the top thereof and normally extending rearwardly therefrom,a third bullet-proof plate hinged to said second plate near its rearedge and normally extending forwardly from said hinge in a substantiallyhorizontal position, means connected to the forward edge of said thirdplate for moving said second and third plates to and holding the same ina substantially vertical position, means normally holding said secondand third plates in lowered position, and tripping means for releasingsaid plate-holding means.

8. A banking fixture comprising a partition wall separating the bankingroom into a foyer and a counting room, a substantially verticalbullet-proof plate extending upward from the floor of the banking roombehind and contiguous to said wall substantially to counter height, asecond bullet-proof plate having its forward edge hinged to said firstplate near the top thereof and normally extending rearwardly therefrom,a third bulletproof plate hinged to said second plate near its rear edgeand normally extending forwardly from said hinge in a substantiallyhorizontal position, means connected to the forward edge of said thirdplate for moving said second and third plates to and holding the same ina substantially vertical position, means normally holding said secondand third plates in lowered position, tripping means for releasing saidplate-holding means, a movable moulding mounted upon said partition, andmeans associated with said moulding for actuating said tripping means.

9. A banking fixture comprising a partition wall separating the bankingroom into a foyer and a counting room, a substantially verticallyvertical bullet-proof plate extending upward from the floor of thebanking room behind and contiguous to said wall, a second bullet-proofplate having its forward edge hinged to said first plate near the topthereof and normally extending rearwardly therefrom, a thirdbullet-proof plate hinged to said second plate near its rear edge andnormally extending forwardly from said hinge in a substantiallyhorizontal position, means connected to the forward edge of said thirdplate for moving said second and third plates to and holding the same ina substantially vertical position, means normally holding said secondand third plates in lowered position, tripping means for releasing saidplate-holding means, a window formed in said partition wall above saidfirst plate, a grating slidable vertically within the posts of saidwindow, and means associated with said plate-raising means and saidgrating whereby the latter is raised by said plate-elevating means.

10. A banking fixture comprising a partition wall separating the bankingroom into a foyer and a counting room, a substantially verticalbullet-proof plate extending upward from the floor of the banking roombehind and contiguous to said wall, a second bulletproof plate havingits forward edge hinged to said first plate near the top thereof andnormally extending rearwardly therefrom, a third bullet-proof platehinged to said second plate near its rear edge and normally extend ingforwardly from said hinge in a substantially horizontal position, meansconnected tion.

11. A plurality of foldable elements, means normally holding saidelements folded, and means for extending said elements, saidlastmentioned means comprising a guide rod, a block fixed to one end ofsaid rod, a sleeve slidable upon said rod, and a coil spring encirclingsaid rod intermediate said block and 7 said sleeve so as to exertpressure against the latter.

12. A plurality of foldable elements, means normally holding saidelements folded, means for extending said elements, said lastmentionedmeans comprising a guide rod, a

block fixed to one end of said rod, a sleeve slidablc upon said rod, anda coil spring encircling said rod intermediate said block and saidsleeve so as to exert pressure against the latter, and means forreleasing said holding means.

EDWARD E. JONES.

